Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kootenay Boundary.
Check for pockets of wind slab around steep and high-consequence features.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: Blustery with isolated flurries ending early morning, trace to 5 cm. Light southwest wind. Ridgetop low -9 C.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. Moderate and increasing east-northeast wind. Ridgetop high -2 C.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Moderate east wind. Ridgetop high -5 C.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. Moderate east wind. Ridgetop high -4 C.
Avalanche Summary
Wednesday through Friday, rapid warming triggered several wet loose and wet slab avalanches to size 1.5 around the region. The snowpack has since cooled and avalanche activity is unlikely, but re-frozen debris could be a real travel hazard.
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of up to 15 cm has covered a crust on all aspects and elevations. Wind has redistributed loose snow into gullies and depressions with pocket wind slabs below steep, open features.
Multiple crusts exist in the upper snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Easterly winds Monday could build fresh slabs in less common areas. Check for reactive slabs around steep and high-consequence slopes.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5